Gradometer.



I E. A. HAMMETT & E. H. CLARK.

GRADOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

UNITED sTArns lirtTENT OFFICE.

ELBERT A. HAMMETT AND EDWARD H. CLARK, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

GRADOMETER;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, .1910.

To all whom it may concern:

- 1s to to the cylinder shaft. S

Be it known that we, ELBERT A. HAM- METT and EDWARD H. CLARK, citizensof the United States, residing at Kansas City, 'in the county of Jacksonand State of Missouri,

have invented certain new and useful'Im-.

rovements in Gradometers, of which the ollowing is a specification. 1

This invention relates to improvements in gradometers for automobiles,and one object rovide a simple inexpensive instrument or accuratelyindicating the changes in the road over which the automobile istraveling. y

The device may also be employed to advantage to indicate the trim ofvessels, or it may be used as an ordinary level to indicate changes froma horizontal plane, and in order that the invention may be fullyunderstood, reference will now be made to the ac companying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 represents a, front elevation of the-instrument. Fig. 2 isa-vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the instrumentwith its rear cap. removed. I Fig. 4 1s a broken plan view.

In carrying out the invention we employ a cylindrical case 1, open atits rear end and provided witha cap 2 for normally closing said rearend. The body of cap 2 extends at an angle to its vertical rear-side 3so that the dial of the instrument will bein convenient position forreading when the rear sideof cap 2 is attached to the dash-board 4 of anautomobile. Ca

means of oppositely-disosed bayonet-joints 2, which are covered y anannular flange 5 of the cap. This arrangement conceals the joint andthereby ren ers it difficult for an unauthorized person to remove thecylinder and the mechanism eu-ried thereby.

The face of the cylinder is graduated .as

indicated at 6, to form a dial so that changes in grade may be readilyascertained through the means of a pointer 7, which cooperates with thedial. Pointer 7 is adjustablymounted u on a crank-shaft 8 upon which itmay be 100 red in any desired position by a nut 9 engaging the outerterminal of said aft 8 is rockingly-mounted in the front side of thecylinder and a transverse bearin 10 carried by said cylinder.

11 esignatcs a pendent weight, which through the force of gravity,occupies a vertical position and is provided with a pair of 2 isremovably connectedarms 12, freely-mounted upon a transverse shaft 13,so that said shaft may turn therein.

14 designates a connecting-rod secured by universal joints 15 and 16 tothe crank cn d of shaft 8, and the rear end of weight 11, respectively.Vibration of weight 11 incident to the automobile traveling over a roughroad, is largely overcome by an aircushlon comprlsmg a cyl1nder'17 and apiston l8,'wh1eh latter is pivotally-connected at its forward end by apin 19 to the-upper portion of the weight. Cylinder 17 ispivotally-mounted u on a pair of trunnions 20, extending throu *1 a pairof lugs 21 projecting upwardly rom bearing 10. By thuspivotally-mounting the cyllnder, cramping of the piston therein isobviated.

Pointer 7 is protected by a crystal 22 removably held in positionagainst the face of the cylinder by an annulus 23 secured to thecylinder by oppositely-disposed bayonetjoints 24', the slots'of whichare concealed by the rear portion of the cap.

In practice the instrument is secured to the dash-board 4 by screws 25or other suitable mcans, and the indicator 7 is adjusted to registerwith zero on the dial so that it may move in either direction to recordthe changes in grade of the read. When the automobile is descending agrade, the degree thereof from a horizontal plane will be indicatedbythe pointer swinging to the left, and in ascending a grade, the degreethcrcol will be indicated by the pointer swinging to the right. Thecrank-portion of shaft 8 is arranged at such an angle that it will neverget in vertical alinement with the connecting-rod 14 and thus lock theweight and shaft-13 from moving freely on their bearm s.

llaving thus described our invention, what we claim is v 1. Agradometer, comprising, in combination, a case having a dial, a pointeroperative over said dial, a shaft mounted longitudinally of said caseand carrying said pointer and having a crank arm disposed at an angle tothe vertical plane through the axis of said shaft, a weig t suspended toswing longitudinally of said shaft, and means flexibly connecting saidcrank arm and the lower part of said weight.

z. A gradometcr, com rising, in combination, a case having a dia apointer operative over said dial, a rotatable shaft carrying saidpointer and having a crank arm extending to one side, a weight suspendedto oscillate longitudinally of said shaft, and universal joint and shaftconnections between the lower part of said weight and the free end ofsaid crank arm.

3. A gradometer, comprising, in coinbina-v tion, case having a dial, apointer operative over said "dial, a rotatable shaft carrying saidpointer and having a crank arm extending to one side, a weight having apoint of suspension above said shaft and hanging below said shaft, and alink connecting said crank arm and said weight.

4. A gradometer, comprising, in combination, a cylindrical casing,having a dial at one end, a pointer adapted to traverse said dial, ashaft rotatably mounted in said casing and carrying said pointer, anoscillatory weight suspended to swing longitudinally of said shaftsaidweight having its points of suspension above said shaft and havingits bulk hanging therebelow, an eccentric ele ment formed on said shaftand a rod 'connecting said eccentric element and said weight and formingwith said eccentric element a togglelever connection between said Weightand said shaft.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures, in the presence of twowitnesses.

ELBERT A. HAMMETT. EDWARD I-I. CLARK.

. Witnesses:

F. G. Fiscnnn, M. Cox.

